Mimi Rothschild - Home School Support & Home Education News

By Mimi Rothschild

I once knew a wonderful Christian homeschooling family whose children were shining examples of the benefits of home education. The children were all respectful, bright, and dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Christ. However, I am constantly reminded of one strange quirk: The youngest child wore a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and bandana well into his mid-teens. When he was younger, we thought it was funny that he would dress up every day. I have to admit, as time went on, it became less cute and a bit creepy.

I think that this isolated incident, while an extreme example, can be a problem in far too many homeschooled families. If this young fellow had gone to public school, I’m sure that enough kids would have picked on him that he would voluntarily retire the garb. But with no peer pressure or social norms found in a classroom setting, he was free to dress and act as strangely as his imagination would let him.

Believe it or not, peer pressure can actually be a healthy social function. It’s how children learn what is appropriate and what is inappropriate in a social setting. I’m not arguing that you should allow your children to make fun of each other or act in a mean-spirited fashion. However, I believe that we should not discourage our children from trying to fit in, to a certain degree. It’s one thing to be independent and unique, it’s quite another to be just plain odd.

Yes, the Scripture calls us to be “peculiar” people. However, we must remember that Paul encourages us to “do as the Romans do.” I have come across many homeschool parents that are proud that their kids don’t fit in amongst other kids. I take issue with this stance. I have raised my children to be comfortable and “normal” among other kids, without sacrificing their integrity or beliefs. The world has a tendency to view Christians, especially homeschooled ones, as kind of kooky. We can reverse this stereotype by teaching our kids to think for themselves while not entirely disregarding what the other kids think about their behavior. As long as your child’s ethics are not compromised, there’s no reason why he or she should not fit in just fine.